Method for remotely controlling several audio/visual apparatus

Abstract: A remote control method for an audio/visual system which can perform protection during execution of a system feature and is convenient in use is disclosed. The remote control method is applied to an audio/visual system wherein each of a plurality of audio/visual equipments includes a microcomputer for controlling operation of the audio/visual equipment. The microcomputers of the audio/visual equipments are connected to each other by way of a bus system. One of the audio/visual equipments is set as an audio/visual center equipment. The audio/visual center equipment controls the entire system in a concentrated manner. The audio/visual center equipment receives remote control signals in a concentrated manner without causing remote controller receiver sections of the audio/visual equipments other than the audio/visual center equipment to function and transfers necessary commands to the audio/visual equipments.

Description: This invention relates to a remote control method for an audio/visual system wherein a plurality of audio/visual equipments are connected to each other by way of a domestic digital bus system such as, for example, a D2B bus system. Audio/visual systems wherein a plurality of audio/visual equipments are connected to each other by way of a bus system to make up a set are conventionally known. In an audio/visual system of the type mentioned, a center equipment is set in advance, and one concentrated remote control signal transmission means called system remote controller is provided for a system feature which is executed by cooperation of a plurality of equipments. A command from the system remote control signal transmission means is received by the center equipment and the system feature is started, and then, execution of the system feature is controlled by the center equipment. Then, the command or a corresponding command is transferred to the audio/visual equipments. An exemplary one of conventional audio/visual systems of the type mentioned is shown in FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 5, the audio/visual system includes a television receiver 1, a video tape recorder 2, an audio/visual amplifier 3, and a multi-disk player 4 which can reproduce optical disks such as a CD (compact disk) and an LD (laser disk). In the audio/visual system shown, the television receiver 1 serves as a center equipment. For transmission and reception of an audio signal and a video signal, the television receiver 1 and the audio/visual amplifier 3 are connected to each other by way of an audio/visual signal line L1, and the audio/visual amplifier 3 and the video tape recorder 2, and the audio/visual amplifier 3 and the multi-disk player 4 are connected to each other by way of audio/visual signal lines L2 and L3, respectively. Further, each of the audio/visual equipments 1 to 4 includes a control circuit in which a single or a plurality of microcomputers for controlling operation of the equipment are employed, and the control circuits of the audio/visual equipments 1 to 4 are connected in cascade connection by way of bidirectional buses B1, B2 and B3 for transmission of a control signal into a single system. The audio/visual equipments 1 to 4 include remote controller receiver sections R1, r2, r3 and r4, respectively, and a remote control signal (command) received by each of them is inputted to and processed by a control circuit of the audio/visual equipment. In the audio/visual system shown, the remote controller receiver section R1 of the television receiver 1 is used only for reception of a signal from system remote control signal transmission means CM1. A command to execute a system feature which is performed by cooperation of a plurality of audio/visual equipments is transmitted from the system remote control signal transmission means CM1 to the remote controller receiver section R1 of the television receiver 1. The television receiver 1 converts the command received from the system remote control signal transmission means CM1 into a bus command (a command to be transmitted to each audio/visual equipment by way of the bus system) and sends out the bus command to the audio/visual equipments by way of the buses B1 to B3. Each audio/visual equipment transfers the bus command to a next audio/visual equipment and determines whether or not the address included in the bus command is an address representative of the audio/visual equipment itself, and then, if the address is the address of itself, the bus command is fetched and decoded so that an operation corresponding to the command is executed. In the audio/visual system of FIG. 5, commands from the different system remote control signal transmission means are all received by the television receiver and a bus command is delivered to the equipments, but the television receiver includes the receiver section only and does not function as a system controller which controls the entire system. It is to be noted that the system remote control signal transmission means CM1 also generates a command of a feature whose operation completes itself only with the television receiver 1. Further, in the audio/visual system of FIG. 5, remote control signal transmission means cm2, cm3 and cm4 for exclusive use are prepared for the individual audio/visual equipments 2 to 4, respectively, and each of the equipments 2 to 4 itself can uniquely receive also a command from the remote control signal transmission means cm2, cm3 or cm4 for exclusive use therewith. FIG. 6 shows another exemplary one of conventional audio/visual systems of the type described above. The audio/visual system is constructed such that other audio/visual equipments than a center equipment are connected in a star connection around the center equipment so that one directional communication is performed from the center equipment. In particular, in the audio/visual system, a system controller 5 is provided as a center equipment, and a video tape recorder 6, an audio/visual amplifier 7, an multi-disk player 8 and a television receiver 9 are connected to the system controller 5 by way of one-directional communication control lines W1, W2, W3 and W4 so that they are controlled one-directionally by the system controller 5. The audio/visual amplifier 7 and the television receiver 9 are connected to each other by way of an audio/visual signal line L4, and the audio/visual amplifier 7 and the video tape recorder 6, and the audio/visual amplifier 7 and the multi-disk player 8 are connected to each other by way of audio/visual signal lines L5 and L6, respectively. The audio/visual system further includes an extended second video tape recorder 10, which is not compatible with the one-directional communication of the audio/visual system. System remote control signal transmission means CM2 is provided for a receiver section R5 of the system controller 5, and a command of a system feature is transmitted from the system remote controller CM2 to the system controller 5. When the command of the system feature is received, the system controller 5 transmits a control command to the equipments 6 to 9 by way of control lines W1 to W4 to realize the object system feature. Also in the present audio/visual system, the audio/visual equipments 6 to 9 and the extended equipment 10 can receive, at respective receiver sections r6 to r9 and r10 thereof, commands from remote control signal transmission means cm6 to cm9 and cm10 for exclusive use therewith, respectively, and execute features they individually have. In the audio/visual system, audio/visual equipments to be extended newly are limited by the number of plugs or jacks of the system controller 5 serving as a center equipment or the number of selection keys for categories (for example, a video tape recorder or an multi-disk player) of system remote control signal transmission means. When an audio/visual equipment to be extended is a product of a different company, any of a very limited number of commands of the system remote control signal transmission means is converted in the inside of the system controller 5 serving as a center equipment and transmitted to the audio/visual equipment or else a code of the different company is transmitted directly to the equipment from the system remote control signal transmission means. With the conventional audio/visual systems described above, however, no protection means for a system feature during execution of the system feature is involved, and even if the system feature has been started with the center equipment set as a master and is being executed, if a command from the remote control signal transmission means for exclusive use with any of the equipments is received, then the audio/visual system operates unconditionally in response to the command. For example, when the multi-disk player 4 or 8 receives a stop command from the remote control signal transmission means cm4 or cm8 for exclusive use therewith while dubbing wherein a reproduction signal of the multi-disk player 4 or 8 is recorded is proceeding, the multi-disk player 4 or 8 enters into a stop mode although it is performing dubbing. Therefore, there is the possibility that the video tape recorder 2 or 4 may maintain its recording condition without knowing that the multi-disk player 4 or 8 has stopped. Also with the conventional systems, when each of the audio/visual equipments recognizes a system feature being executed thereby or when any of the audio/visual equipments delivers an inquiry for a feature being executed to the center equipment, the feature being executed can be recognized and protection for the feature can be performed. In this instance, however, there is a problem in that a large memory capacity is required for each audio/visual equipment or confusion of communication on the bus is resulted. Further, where a warning indication such as, for example, "during execution of dubbing at present" is provided for protection, such indication must be performed on each of the audio/visual equipments. Consequently, each of the equipments is complicated in construction. Further, the conventional audio/visual system of FIG. 6 has a drawback in that it is difficult for a user to recognize or operate the system in that the controlling method for an extended equipment is unclear or the matching method is varied depending upon the manufacturer. Further, in the conventional audio/visual systems, when infrared rays are used for a remote controller signal, the remote control signal transmission means for exclusive use with each of the equipments must necessarily emit a remote controller signal toward the corresponding audio/visual equipment, but since a plurality of remote control signal transmission means are present and besides the positions of the remote controller receiver sections are generally different among the individual audio/visual equipments, there is the possibility that confusion by which remote control signal transmission means and to which direction a remote controller signal should be emitted may be resulted. EP-A-0,423,739 discloses an audio/visual system in which multiple infrared receivers may receive the same command. To prevent a command being carried out multiple times, a device acts upon commands it receives directly and ignores the same command if received via the bus during a predetermined period. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for remotely controlling an electronic system which includes a plurality of electronic devices each including a microcomputer for controlling operation of the electronic equipment, the microcomputers of said electronic equipments being connected to each other by way of a bus system, the method comprising the steps of: providing an additional electronic center device for controlling said electronic equipment system in a concentrated manner; receiving remote control signals in a concentrated manner at said electronic center device; and transferring required commands to said electronic devices, characterised in that; remote control signal reception sections of said electronic devices other than said electronic center equipment are inhibited from functioning. The present invention can provide a remote controlling method for an audio/visual system which can protect a system feature being executed. The present invention can also provide a remote controlling method for an audio/visual system which is easy to use. With the remote control method, since the electronic center equipment effects concentrated control of the entire electronic system and receives remote control signals in a concentrated manner without causing the remote control sections of the electronic equipments other than the electronic center equipment to function, even if a remote control command to any one of the electronic equipments which is executing a system feature is generated, the electronic equipment does not receive the command from the remote control signal transmission means for exclusive use therewith, and accordingly, protection during execution of the system feature is realized. Further, even where infrared rays having a high directivity are used as remote control signal transmission means or whichever one of the remote control signal transmission means for exclusive use with the electronic equipments is used, only it is required to transmit a remote control signal toward the audio/visual center equipment. Consequently, otherwise possible confusion in selection of a type of an equipment for an object of transmission or a transmission direction can be reduced. Furthermore, since remote control signals are received in a concentrated manner by the electronic center equipment, also a remote control signal of an electronic equipment manufactured by a different company can be converted readily into a bus command by the electronic center equipment. Where a command for a standard feature is made common among different manufacturers, the user can perform a remote controlling operation readily for an extended equipment. Preferably, upon initialization when each of the electronic equipments is connected by way of the bus system, the electronic center equipment sets so as to inhibit functioning of the remote control signal reception section of the electronic equipment. Preferably, a command peculiar to each of the electronic equipments from remote control signal transmission means provided for exclusive use with the electronic equipment is received and decoded by the electronic center equipment and transferred to a relevant one or ones of the electronic equipments when necessary. Each of the electronic equipments may output a video signal or an audio signal. One of the electronic equipments may be a tape recording and/or reproduction apparatus or a disk recording and/or reproduction apparatus. The electronic equipments may include a disk apparatus which transfers a signal and a tape apparatus which records the signal from the disk apparatus. Preferably, a command peculiar to each of the electronic equipments from remote control signal transmission means provided for exclusive use with the electronic equipment is received and decoded by the electronic center equipment, and when the remote control signal transmission means of a relevant one or ones of the electronic equipments are executing another feature, the electronic center equipment develops a warning representing the fact. Thus, upon protection of a system feature, a warning can be developed from the electronic center equipment. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote commander apparatus for controlling an electronic system which includes a plurality of electronic devices each including a microcomputer for controlling operation of the electronic device, the microcomputers of said electronic devices being connected to each other by way of a bus system, the apparatus comprising: an electronic center device for controlling said electronic system in a concentrated manner and transfer required commands to said electronic devices; characterised in that; said electronic center device is constructed to receive remote control signals in a concentrated manner and to inhibit functioning of remote control signal reception sections of said electronic devices other than said electronic center device. According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus to be included in and controlled by an electronic device system which includes, in addition to said electronic apparatus, one or a plurality of second electronic devices and an electronic center device for controlling said electronic device system in a concentrated manner, each of said electronic apparatus, said second electronic device(s) and said electronic center device including a microcomputer for controlling operation thereof, the microcomputers being connected to each other by way of a bus system, the apparatus being adapted so that remote control signal reception sections of said electronic apparatus and apparatus and said second electronic device(s) are rendered inoperative while only said electronic center device is operative to receive remote control signals in a concentrated manner and transfer a required command to said electronic apparatus and said second electronic device(s). The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts or elements are denoted by like reference characters. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an audio/visual system to which a remote control method according to the present invention is applied; FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a sequence of operations of a process of preventing remote controller receiver sections of equipments of the audio/visual system of FIG. 1 other than an audio/visual center equipment from functioning; FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a remote control signal reception operation and system control of the audio/visual center equipment of the audio/visual system of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a process of executing protection of the audio/visual system of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional audio/visual system; and FIG. 6 is a block diagram of another conventional audio/visual system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown an audio/visual system to which a remote control method of the present invention is applied. The audio/visual system shown includes a television receiver 11 serving as an audio/visual center equipment in the present audio/visual system. The television receiver 11 includes a receiver section R11 for receiving a remote control signal from system remote control signal transmission means CM3. The audio/visual system further includes a first video tape recorder 12, an audio/visual amplifier 13, and an multi-disk player 14. The audio/visual system further includes a second video tape recorder 15 which is connected later as an extended equipment. For transmission and reception of an audio signal and a video signal, an audio/visual signal processing circuit 11S of the television receiver 11 and an audio/visual signal processing circuit 13S of the audio/visual amplifier 13, the audio/visual signal processing circuit 13S of the audio/visual amplifier 13 and an audio/visual signal processing circuit 12S of the first video tape recorder 12, the audio/visual signal processing circuit 13S of the audio/visual amplifier 13 and an audio/visual signal processing circuit 14S of the multi-disk player 14, and the audio/visual signal processing circuit 13S of the audio/visual amplifier 13 and an audio/visual signal processing circuit 15S of the second video tape recorder 15 are connected to each other by way of audio/visual signal lines L8, L9, L10 and L11, respectively. The audio/visual equipments 11 to 15 include control circuits 11CT to 15CT, respectively, each of which employs a single or a plurality of microcomputers for controlling operation of the equipment. The control circuits 11CT to 15CT of the audio/visual equipments 11 to 15 are connected in cascade connection by way of bidirectional buses B4 to B7 for transmission of a control signal to make up a system and are controlled in a concentrated condition by the television receiver 11 which serves as an audio/visual center equipment. In this instance, operation of the system is controlled by the television receiver 1 serving as an audio/visual center equipment, and the television receiver 11 receives remote control signals in a concentrated manner without causing remote controller receiver sections r12 to r15 of the equipments 12 to 15 except the audio/visual center equipment to function in principle. Also commands peculiar to the equipments 12 to 15 from the remote control signal transmission means for exclusive use with the audio/visual equipments are received by the television receiver 11 serving as an audio/visual center equipment and transmitted to the individual equipments. In order to prevent the remote controller receiver sections r12 to r15 of the equipments 12 to 15 other than the audio/visual center equipment 11 from functioning, upon initialization of connection of the bus system of the present audio/visual system, the audio/visual center equipment 11 sends a command to the equipments other than the audio/visual center equipment 11 itself so that the remote controller receiver sections of them may not be caused to function. Further, for an extended equipment, protection can be achieved by constructing the system such that, when the extended equipment is connected to the bus system, the connection is detected mechanically or electrically by the audio/visual system and the remote controller receiver section of the extended equipment is set automatically so that it may not function. Or, the system may alternatively be constructed such that, when the extended equipment is connected to the bus system, it is transmitted to the audio/visual center equipment that the extended equipment has been connected, and then the audio/visual center equipment sends a command to the extended equipment so that the remote controller receiver section of the extended equipment may not function. FIG. 2 illustrates a sequence of operations of a method of preventing the remote controller receiver sections of the equipments 12 to 15 other than the audio/visual center equipment 11 from functioning. In particular, referring to FIG. 2, after initialization processing is performed when the audio/visual system is built up and connected by way of the bus system, a command to turn off the remote controller receiver section r12 is sent from the audio/visual center equipment, that is, television receiver 11, to the first audio/visual equipment, for example, the first video tape recorder 12. Then, the first vide tape recorder 12 stops supply of power, for example, to the remote controller receiver section r12 to put the remote controller receiver section r12 into a rest condition and sends back a command of acceptance of turning off of the remote control function to the audio/visual center equipment 11. The operations described above are performed successively for the audio/visual amplifier 13 and the multi-disk player 14 to put the remote controller receiver sections r13 and r14 of them into a rest condition. If the second video tape recorder 15 is connected as an extended equipment to the audio/visual system, a command representing that a video tape recorder has been connected to the bus system is sent from the second video tape recorder 15 to the audio/visual center equipment 11 by way of the bus system. Then, a command to turn off the remote controller receiver section r15 of the second video tape recorder 15 is sent from the audio/visual center equipment 11 to the second video tape recorder 15. The second video tape recorder 15 interrupts, upon reception of the command, supply of power, for example, to the remote controller receiver section r15 similarly as described above so that the remote controller receiver section r15 may not function, and then sends back a command of acceptance of turning off of the remote control function to the audio/visual center equipment 11. It is to be noted that, in this instance, when the extended equipment is an audio/visual equipment of a different manufacturer, the audio/visual center equipment may leave the remote controller receiver section of the equipment operative. In this instance, a command is sometimes delivered only to the extended equipment during execution of a system feature from the remote control signal transmission means for exclusive use with the extended equipment. The audio/visual center equipment 11 detects a variation of the condition of the extended equipment and stops, if it cannot be avoided to interrupt the feature being executed, all of other cooperating equipments by which the feature is being executed. Then, an explanation of the interruption may be indicated in an overlapping relationship with an image, for example, on the screen of the television receiver 11. In this instance, as means of the audio/visual center equipment 11 for detecting a variation of the condition of any other audio/visual equipment, at a point of time when the condition of each of the equipments varies, status information of the equipment which is automatically developed from the equipment for delivering a notification of the fact to the audio/visual center equipment 11 can be used. Another method wherein, when the remote controller receiver section R11 of the audio/visual center equipment 11 receives a command which is impossible to analyze, the audio/visual center equipment 11 may deliver an inquiry for the condition to all of the equipments may be employed alternatively. In this manner, an operation of the system is controlled by the audio/visual center equipment 11, and the audio/visual center equipment 11 receives remote control signals in a concentrated manner without causing the remote controller receiver sections r12 to r15 of the equipments 12 to 15 other than the audio/visual center equipment to function in principle. Consequently, it can be prevented that an equipment which is executing a system feature receives and operates in accordance with a command from the remote control transmission means for exclusive use with the equipment. In other words, protection of the system feature can be realized. Thereupon, processing for indication of a warning or the like can be performed readily by the audio/visual center equipment 11. FIG. 3 illustrates remote control signal processing of the control circuit 11CT of the television receiver 11 serving as an audio/visual center equipment. Referring to FIG. 3, a remote control command from the system remote control signal transmission means CM3 received at the remote controller receiver section R11 is decoded by a decoding section or remote control signal decoder 111 and supplied to a feature controlling section 112 and a bus command generation section 113. The feature controlling section 112 recognizes whether the remote control command thus received originates from the system remote control signal transmission means CM3 or the remote control signal transmission means for exclusive use with any of the equipments, and when it recognizes that the remote control command represents a system feature, bus commands to realize the feature is sent to audio/visual equipments which should cooperate to realize the feature. Thereupon, addresses of the individual audio/visual equipments are added to the respective bus commands. On the other hand, when the feature controlling section 112 recognizes that the received remote control command is not a command from the system remote control signal transmission means CM3, it subsequently recognizes from which one of the.equipments the remote control command is received, adds the address of the equipment to produce a corresponding bus command and sends the bus command to the equipment. It is to be noted that a command from the remote control signal transmission means for exclusive use with each of the equipments includes an address of the equipment. Accordingly, the audio/visual center equipment 11 may alternatively send the received command by broadcast communication to all of the equipments (transmission transfer). The feature controlling section 112 has a memory in which information is stored so that what feature is being executed at present by each of the equipments or what system feature is being executed at present may always be recognized. Thus, if, when a system feature is being executed and is not completed as yet, a command input from the remote control signal transmission means for exclusive use with one of those equipments which is engaged in execution of the system feature is received by the audio/visual center equipment 11, then the feature controlling section 112 can develop a warning that the system feature is being executed and ignore the command or call for an attention of the user. In particular, when the feature controlling section 113 recognizes that a received remote control command originates from an equipment which is executing a system feature, it activates a warning generation section 114 so that it is displayed in an overlapping condition, for example, on the screen of the television receiver 11 that the system feature is being executed. Looking at the warning display, the user can determine whether the system feature should be continued or interrupted intentionally. FIG. 4 illustrates a sequence of operations for protection of a system feature. In FIG. 4, an ellipse denotes an event, and an arrow mark denotes transmission of a command. Referring to FIG. 4, the system remote control signal transmission means CM3 transmits to the audio/visual center equipment 11 a command to perform dubbing wherein a reproduction signal of the multi-disk player 14 is recorded by means of the first video tape recorder 12. Upon reception of the remote control command, the audio/visual center equipment 11 sends a bus command to the multi-disk player 14 to connect an output terminal of it to the audio/visual amplifier 13, that is, to send a reproduction output signal to the audio/visual amplifier 13, and sends another bus command to the first video tape recorder 12 to connect an audio/visual input terminal of it to the audio/visual amplifier 13. Thereafter, the television receiver 11 serving as an audio/visual center equipment sends a bus command to the multi-disk player 14 to start reproduction and sends another bus command to the first video tape recorder 12 to put itself into a recording mode. By the operations described so far, a system feature of dubbing from the multi-disk player 14 to the first video tape recorder 12 by way of the audio/visual amplifier 13 is executed. It is assumed that, during execution of the system feature, a stopping command from the remote control signal transmission means for exclusive use with the multi-disk player 14 is received by the audio/visual center equipment 11. Since the television receiver 11 serving as an audio/visual center equipment recognizes that dubbing is being executed, it determines that a warning indication should be provided on the screen thereof. Consequently, a warning indication that dubbing is being executed is provided in an overlapping relationship with a reproduction image on the screen of the television receiver 11. If, for example, the user does not input a stopping command, dubbing is continued. Then, when reproduction of the disk on the multi-disk player 14 comes to an end, a status signal representing this is automatically transmitted to the audio/visual center equipment 11 by way of the bus system. Upon reception of the status signal, the audio/visual center equipment 11 sends a stopping bus command to the first video tape recorder 12. Consequently, dubbing comes to an end. In this manner, even if, during execution of a system feature, a remote control command to an audio/visual equipment by which the feature is being executed is received, the audio/visual center equipment can prevent operation of the audio/visual equipments, and consequently, protection of the system feature is realized. It is to be noted that, while, in the embodiment described above, a warning indication that a system feature is being executed is provided on the television receiver, when it is tried to provide a warning indication otherwise on the audio/visual amplifier or some other audio/visual equipment, it should be provided on a display unit such as an LCD (liquid crystal display) unit. Further, the warning may not depend upon a display but may depend upon sound or may be provided by means of a warning lamp.

Claims: A method for remotely controlling an electronic system which includes a plurality of electronic devices (12-15) each including a microcomputer for controlling operation of the electronic equipment, the microcomputers of said electronic equipments being connected to each other by way of a bus system (B4,B5,B7), the method comprising the steps of: providing an additional electronic center device (11) for controlling said electronic equipment system in a concentrated manner; receiving remote control signals in a concentrated manner at said electronic center device; and transferring required commands to said electronic devices, characterised in that; remote control signal reception sections (r12-r15) of said electronic devices (12-15) other than said electronic center equipment (11) are inhibited from functioning. A method according to claim 1, wherein, upon initialization when each of said electronic devices (12-15) is connected by way of said bus system, said electronic center device (11) inhibits the functioning of the remote control signal reception sectioning (r12-r15) of the other electronic devices (12-15). A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a command peculiar to one of said electronic devices (12-15) from remote control signal transmission means (LM3) provided for exclusive use with that electronic device is received and decoded by said electronic center device (11) and transferred to a relevant one or ones of said electronic devices (12-15) when necessary. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a command peculiar to one of said electronic devices (12-15) from remote control signal transmission means (LM3) provided for exclusive use with that electronic device is received and decoded by said electronic center device, and when the remote control signal transmission means of a relevant one or ones of said electronic devices are executing another feature, said electronic center device develops a warning representing the fact. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said electronic devices (12-15) is adapted to output a video signal or an audio signal. A method according to claim 5, wherein at least one of said electronic devices (12-15) is a tape recording and/or reproduction apparatus or a disk recording and/or reproduction apparatus. A method according to claim 5, wherein said electronic devices (12-15) include a disk apparatus which produces a signal and a tape apparatus which records the signal from said disk apparatus. A remote commander apparatus for controlling an electronic system which includes a plurality of electronic devices (12-15) each including a microcomputer for controlling operation of the electronic device, the microcomputers of said electronic devices being connected to each other by way of a bus system (B4,B5,B7), the apparatus comprising: an electronic center device (11) for controlling said electronic system in a concentrated manner and transfer required commands to said electronic devices; characterised in that; said electronic center device (11) is constructed to receive remote control signals in a concentrated manner and to inhibit functioning of remote control signal reception sections of said electronic devices other than said electronic center device. An electronic apparatus to be included in and controlled by an electronic device system which includes, in addition to said electronic apparatus (12), one or a plurality of second electronic devices (13-15) and an electronic center device (11) for controlling said electronic device system in a concentrated manner, each of said electronic apparatus (12), said second electronic device(s) (13-15) and said electronic center device (11) including a microcomputer for controlling operation thereof, the microcomputers being connected to each other by way of a bus system (B4-B7), the apparatus being adapted so that remote control signal reception sections (r12-W5) of said electronic apparatus (12) and apparatus and said second electronic device(s) (13-15) are rendered inoperative while only said electronic center device (11) is operative to receive remote control signals in a concentrated manner and transfer a required command to said electronic apparatus and said second electronic device(s). An apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein, upon initialization when each of said electronic devices (12-15) is connected by way of said bus system (B4-B7), said electronic center device (11) inhibits functioning of the remote control signal reception section of the electronic devices. An apparatus according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein a command peculiar to one of said electronic devices from remote control signal transmission means (LM3) provided for exclusive use with that electronic device is received and decoded by said electronic center device (11) and transferred to a relevant one or ones of said electronic devices (12-15) when necessary. An apparatus according to claim 8, 9, 10 or 11, wherein a command peculiar to one of said electronic devices from remote control signal transmission means (LM3) provided for exclusive use with that electronic device is received and decoded by said electronic center device (11), and when the remote control signal transmission means (LM3) of a relevant one or ones of said electronic devices are executing another feature, said electronic center device (11) develops a warning representing that fact. An apparatus according to claims 8 to 11, wherein each of said electronic devices (12-15) is adapted to output a video signal or an audio signal. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein at least one of said electronic devices (12-15) is a tape recording and/or reproduction apparatus or a disk recording and/or reproduction apparatus. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said electronic devices (12-15) include a disk apparatus which reproduces a signal and a tape apparatus which records the signal from said disk apparatus.

Inventors: KATSUYAMA AKIRA, KOTABE NORIKO, KUSAGAYA YASUO, OSAKABE YOSHIO, SATO MAKOTO, SUGIYAMA KOUICHI, TANAKA SHIGEO, YAMAZAKI HIROSHI, KATSUYAMA, AKIRA, KOTABE, NORIKO, KUSAGAYA, YASUO, OSAKABE, YOSHIO, SATO, MAKOTO, SUGIYAMA, KOUICHI, TANAKA, SHIGEO, YAMAZAKI, HIROSHI, KATSUYAMA, AKIRA, C/O SONY CORPORATION, KOTABE, NORIKO, C/O SONY CORPORATION, KUSAGAYA, YASUO, C/O SONY CORPORATION, OSAKABE, YOSHIO, C/O SONY CORPORATION, SATO, MAKOTO, C/O SONY CORPORATION, SUGIYAMA, KOUICHI, C/O SONY CORPORATION, TANAKA, SHIGEO, C/O SONY CORPORATION, YAMAZAKI, HIROSHI, C/O SONY CORPORATION
Applicants: SONY CORP, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1994
Main classification: H04B1
IPC codes: G11B27, H04N5, H04L12, H04B1